The Australian Defence Force has confirmed two Australian soldiers from a Brisbane-based regiment died when their foot patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan yesterday.

The men, who have not been named, were on patrol in the Mirabad Valley on Monday morning (Afghan time) when they were attacked.

Acting Defence Force chief Lieutenant General David Hurley said one soldier died at the scene while another died of his wounds in a Coalition medical facility.

The incident is the first time two Australian soldiers have been killed as a result of enemy action on the same day since the Vietnam War.

Earlier NATO confirmed that 10 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan on Monday in the deadliest day in months for foreign forces.

The dead Australians, who were both on their first tours in Afghanistan, were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks and were working with the Mentoring Task Force.

Their deaths take the ADF death toll in Afghanistan to 13 since 2002.

An explosives detection dog also died but there were no other casualties among Australian or Afghan troops at the scene.

"I speak for the entire Australian Defence community when I tell you I am deeply saddened by the loss of these two brave Australian soldiers," Lieutenant General Hurley said.

Lieutenant General Hurley also read from a statement by Defence Force Chief Angus Houston - who is travelling to Pakistan - in which he said he was "devastated" by their deaths.

"I want [the soldiers' families] to know that these two fine soldiers were outstanding Australians," he said in the statement.

Speaking on behalf of Defence Minister John Faulkner, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet offered his condolences on behalf of the Government.

"Two of our finest Australians have been taken from us," he said. "Sadly their sacrifice reminds us that the mission in Afghanistan is extremely dangerous."

"This is a sober reminder to us all about the difficult and dangerous work that our soldiers are doing each day in Afghanistan, whether it's in the news or whether it's not. It's a sobering reminder that we are up against a determined and dangerous enemy," he said.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott described the soldiers' deaths as a tragedy for their families and the country.

"It shows just how dangerous is the work that our armed forces are doing in Afghanistan. It's very dangerous work, but it's a very important cause, and I know that all Australians will be reaching out to the families of those killed soldiers in their hour of need and grief," he said.

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